Car-brake.



(No Model.)

Patented Nov. 26, I901. J. Sl-IELTON.

GAB BRAKE.

(Appliation med an. 18, 1901'.

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

Patented Nov. 26. l90l.

.2. SHELTON. GAR BRAKE.

(Application filed Feb. 18, 1901.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN SHELTON, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO EDWARD P. BECKER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

CAR-BRAKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 687,545, dated November 26, 1901.

Application filed February 18, 1901. Serial No. 47,758. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN SHELTON, of the city of St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Brakes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

This invention relates to car-brakes; and it consists of the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter shown, described, and claimed.

One object of this invention is to provide a car-brake having an operating mechanism supported entirely abovethe trucks, so that it Will not contact with any objects which may be on the track, thereby derailing the cars or otherwise causing inconvenience.

Another object is to provide an improved brake mechanism in which the brake-shoes are suspended directly from the car-bolsters, avoiding-the use of brake-beams and thereby reducing the expense as well as the weight of the truck.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view of the bottom of a car, showing my improved brake attached thereto. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is an end view of a car, showing the brake in operative position. Figs. 4 and 5 are perspective views showing a portion of the brake mechanism. Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing a portion of the adjusting device. I

In the construction of my improved brake the brake-shoes are suspended from the bolster, and for supporting the brake-shoes thereto I provide hanger-castings 1, adapted to be secured in any desirable manner to the bolster 2 and provided with extensions 3, to which are pivoted the hangers 4, the lower ends of the said hangers supporting the brakeshoes 5. The castings 1 are provided with other extensions 6, to which are pivoted the levers 7, the lower ends thereof being connected to the brake-shoes 5. The two outer levers in each truck are extended inwardly and are bent double and carry the pulleys 8, around which pass. chains 9. The outer ends of the chains 9 are connected to the upper ends of the inner levers 7 in each truck, so that when the chains are drawn by the operating-levers said levers 7 will be moved to draw the brakeshoes against the wheels. The inner ends of the chains 9 are connected to the rods 10, and the ends of said rods 10 are connected by a connecting-rod 11. However, the said rods 10 may be formed integral with each other and provided with a loop, if preferred, to avoid the necessity of using the connection 11.

To the connection 11 at one end of the car is attached a rod 12, the inner end of which is connected to a segment 13, which forms a part of the adjusting device. To the connection 11 at the opposite end of the car is attached a rod 14, the inner end of which is attached to the lever 15, and the opposite end of the said lever l5-is connected to a rod 16. A lever 17 is supported by the segment 13, and connected to one end thereof is a rod 18, and a connection 19 is extended between the ends of the said rods 16 and 1S.

20 indicates an ordinary air-brake cylinder which by the usual connections may be made use of to operate the connection 19 and the levers 16 and 1S,and thereby apply the brakes. Arod 21 has its inner end attached to the connection 19, and its outer end is connected to a chain 22, which is connected to the usual operatingshaft 23, and hence it follows that by turning the shaft 23 the rod 21 will be operated, which will also apply the brakes by moving the different connections above described.

On some occasions it may be desired to increase or diminish the scope of movement of the rods previous to adjusting the brakes, orin case the brake-shoes become worn it may be necessary to diminish the movement of the different levers, and for this purpose I have provided the segment 13, connecting the ends of which is an integral portion 24, and the lever 17 is pivoted to the said portion 24. As shown in Fig. 6, the segment 13 consists of two pieces, and the lever 17 is supported between the two pieces and is allowed to move to permit the adjustment of the brake mechanism. A series of openings 25 is formed in the segment 13 at suitable intervals, and a corresponding opening is formed in the lever 17, so that the locking-pin 26 may be passed through the openings 25 into the opening in the lever 17, and thereby hold the same in position. By moving the lever 17 to the right the rods 16 and 18 and their connections will be moved to lengthen the scope of movement of the operating-rods, and the lever may be held in position by looking it to the segment 13 bymeans of the pin 26. By moving the lever 17 in the opposite direction the reverse operation takes place.

In a brake of my improved construction the brake-shoes are suspended in alinenient with the wheels and will normally be held out of contact therewith by gravity, for the reason that the supporting projections 3 do not extend out to the edges of the wheels. From this it follows that after the brakes are released they will be automatically removed from the wheels and require no positive movement to. draw them into their normal positions. The entire number of brakes may be operated simultaneously by moving the rods 16 and 18, which will operate the rods 12 and 14 through the connections above described to apply the brakes. The single chain 9 at each side being connected to both brake-levers will apply equal pressure to them both and positively apply them to the surfaces of the wheels.

To release the brakes, it is onlv necessary to remove the power from the rods 16 and 18, which, as above described, permit the rods 12 and 14 to assume their normal position and the brake-shoes to be automatically drawn away from the wheels by gravity.

The construction of a brake of this character avoids the use of brake-beams, which are essential to brakes of ordinary construction. It also avoids the unnecessary weight of these additional parts and permits the brake mechanism to be suspended above the trucks and out of the path of any objects which may be on the track. By eliminating the brakebeams and other elements essential to ordinary trucks the cost of the brake is greatly reduced, while at the same time it possesses all the advantages of those brakes of ordinary construction and may be applied with equal facility. No push-rods are necessary to release the brakes from the wheels, and, as above stated, they will be automatically thrown into position the moment the rods 16 and 18 are released to permit the connectingrods 12 and let to assume their normal positions.

I claim- 1. In a car-brake,brake-shoes supported by the bolster located above the truck,levers pivotally supported by the bolster and having their lower ends attached to the brake-shoes; pulleys carried by certain of said levers, chains connected to the other levers and passin g around the pulleys,andoperating-rods for moving the levers and applying the brakes.

2. In a car-brake, brake-shoes suspended from the bolster located above the truck, levers pivoted to the bolster and having their lower ends attached to the brake-shoes, pul leys carried by certain of said levers, chains connected to the other levers and passing around the pulleys, operating-rods connected to said chains to apply the brakes, and means for. regulating the scope of movement of the operating-rods.

3. In a car-brake, the combination of the brake-shoes suspended from the bolster, carried above the truck-frame, levers pivoted to the bolster and having their lower ends attached to the brake-shoes, pulleys carried by certain of said levers, chains connected to the other levers and passing around the pulleys, operating-rods connected to said chains, an adjusting device connected to the operating-rods, and connections between the operating-rods and the usual air-brake mechanism, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof 'I aftix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN SHELTON.

Witnesses:

ALFRED A. EIcKs, JOHN C. HIGDON. 

